My First Joke

In this episode, Karim Kanji sits down with Toronto comedian Ernie Vicente for an insightful and entertaining conversation about the journey from everyday life to the comedy stage. Ernie shares how a college presentation and a viral wedding video inspired him to pursue stand-up, and reflects on the nerves and excitement of his first open mic experiences.

The discussion covers Ernie’s evolution as a comic—from experimenting with one-...

In this episode, Karim Kanji sits down with comedian Nick Reynoldson for a candid and entertaining look at Nick’s two-decade journey in stand-up comedy. Nick shares how he stumbled into comedy through Humber’s writing and performance program, discovering his passion during a three-minute set at Yuk Yuk's. He reflects on the thrill of immediate audience feedback and the creative freedom that drew him to stand-up.

Nick recounts hi...

Our final guest this season is comedia Himansu Patel. Himansu recounted his two-decade journey in comedy, starting from promoting parties in Montreal to performing at notable venues like the Broadway Comedy Club in New York City. He discussed the evolution of his comedic style and the importance of audience connection, particularly in diverse cities like Toronto. Himansu humorously reflected on his experiences in Japan and shared a...

In this episode, Karim Kanji sits down with comedian Thea Rainford to explore her journey into stand-up and the stories behind her earliest jokes—a perfect fit for Karim’s upcoming season centered on comedians' “first jokes.”

Thea opens up about discovering comedy during a difficult breakup in the pandemic, when she began writing material about her ex and her beloved cat. She reflects on her first-ever showcase at Tallboys, wher...

Comedian Clif Knight is this week's guest on My First Joke.

Clif began by sharing his journey into stand-up comedy, detailing how he discovered the open mic scene in Toronto after moving from Mississauga. He described his initial performance as challenging, emphasizing the significance of preparation, which prompted him to create a personalized joke book for refining his material.

Over time, Clif's comedic style has transiti...

Comedian Keesha Brownie joins host Karim Kanji for a lively and insightful conversation about her journey into stand-up comedy. Keesha shares how she transitioned from dreams of singing and acting to discovering her passion for comedy, the importance of confidence on stage, and the lessons learned from performing in both clubs and theaters across Canada and beyond. She opens up about finding her comedic voice, blending storytelling...

In this episode, host Karim Kanji sits down with comedian Hershawn Arora for an in-depth conversation about the craft and community of stand-up comedy. Hershawn opens up about his journey from his early days on stage to achieving a career milestone — recording for Just for Laughs Originals in 2023.

The two dive into what it really takes to build a career in comedy, from the importance of peer support to the art of hosting a successf...

Welcome to the show, Zul Gulamhusein!

This episode centered around Zul Gulamhusein's journey into stand-up comedy.

Zul shared his passion for comedy, driven by a desire to bring joy and reflect on his upbringing. He contrasted the preparation for stand-up performances with emceeing events, highlighting the unique challenges of engaging an audience without additional support.

Zul recounted his early experiences in come...

Today's guest is Husein Panju!

Host Karim Kanji and Husein discuss Husein's journey from a legal career to stand-up comedy, highlighting his lifelong passion for humour and the skills he developed through competitive debating and public speaking.

Husein shared insights into his early experiences in comedy, including the challenges he faced and the importance of personal storytelling in crafting jokes. He recounted re...

Today's episode features my conversation with comedian, BONG GUN KIM and his journey into stand-up comedy, highlighting his transition from a traditional career path in Korea to pursuing his passion in Canada.

KIM shared his experiences with language barriers in comedy, noting that performing in English allows him greater freedom in his comedic expression. He reflected on his first open mic performance at Humber College, where he f...

Welcome to Season Two of My First Joke.

Today's guest is comedian Rasha Elfeky.

The discussion centered on Rasha's journey into stand-up comedy, beginning with her unexpected entry into the field three and a half years ago at an open mic in San Francisco. Initially skeptical of the performances, Rasha was encouraged by a friend to take the stage, where she delivered a joke that resonated with the audience, igniting he...

The final episode of Season One centered around Keith Bender's journey in comedy and his experiences as a performer. Keith reflected on his early influences, including his upbringing as the class clown and the encouragement he received from a co-worker to pursue comedy. He shared the challenges he faced in tough venues, emphasizing the importance of delivery and confidence in eliciting laughter.

In this episode, Keith recoun...

In this episode, Karim Kanji sits down with stand-up comedian Monty Scott to explore his journey through the world of comedy—starting with their shared roots in Scarborough. Though Monty now lives in East York, his heart still beats in Scarborough, where his creative sensibilities were shaped and where his show 60 Seconds from Scarborough was born (and may yet return).

From gritty open mics to oddball venues like karate dojos and Mo...

The discussion centered on Freddy Jan's journey into stand-up comedy, beginning with his early interest sparked by a classmate's suggestion in kindergarten. Freddy recounted his first performance at an amateur night organized by Yuk Yuks, where he delivered a joke about his messy university living situation. Despite initial nerves and witnessing challenging performances from others, he connected with the audience, which boo...

Rebecca reflected on her journey in stand-up comedy, detailing her initial struggles and the evolution of her comedic style over 13 to 14 years. She shared memorable experiences, including opening for Fortune Feimster and meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger, which highlighted significant milestones in her career. The discussion also touched on the importance of confidence in performances, with both Karim and Rebecca agreeing that a stron...

Welcome to My First Joke with host Karim Kanji. Today's guest is comedian, Kevin Christopher.

The discussion centered on comedian Kevin Christopher's journey into stand-up comedy, highlighting his initial experiences and the evolution of his comedic style. Kevin shared that his interest in comedy was sparked by a class project that led him to storytelling, influenced by figures like Eddie Murphy. His first performance occur...

Mark DeBonis is a Canadian comedian known for his stand-up performances and contributions to the comedy scene. He has achieved significant recognition in his career, including winning The Great Canadian Laugh Off and a Canadian Comedy Award. DeBonis has performed at major events like Just For Laughs and appeared on platforms such as CBC and the Comedy Network.In addition to live performances, Mark DeBonis released a comedy album ti...

Sandra Battaglini is a Toronto-based stand-up comic who has been performing since around 2001. She began her comedy journey after taking improv classes at Second City, where she and some classmates decided to try stand-up. Her first performance was at the Laugh Resort club in Toronto, followed by a more successful set at Yuk Yuks.Battaglini's comedy style evolved from storytelling to incorporating more structured jokes, often d...